Senate Concurrent Resolution 523

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE OF RENOWNED HARRISON COUNTY TRIAL ATTORNEY WILLIAM LYMAN "WILL" DENTON OF BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, William Lyman Denton of Biloxi, Mississippi, passed away on Friday, December 3, 2004; and

WHEREAS, "Will" Denton was eulogized by author John Grisham as a renowned trial attorney, husband and father, mentor, art patron, hunter, lover of dogs, champion of the underdog, veteran, wit, literary consultant, country boy from Brooklyn, Mississippi, and Renaissance man; and

WHEREAS, Will grew up in rural Forrest County in the Brooklyn community. He graduated from Forrest County Agricultural High School in 1959. While there, he played football and made the State All-Star football team his senior year. Will attended Perkinston Junior College for two years before transferring to the University of Mississippi. He graduated from law school in 1965 and opened a small law office in Hattiesburg. Will served in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the Air Force for three years, including one tour of duty in Vietnam. In March of 1969, Will opened his law office in Biloxi. From his roots, he always associated with the working people and spent the majority of his life serving his clients. His love for the outdoors is well-known. At every opportunity he could be found at his hunting camp surrounded with fellow hunters or fishing in the Gulf. Will loved life to the fullest and he will be remembered as a man who never gave up; and

WHEREAS, best-selling novelist John Grisham requested Denton's help on several occasions in composing his various books, drawing on Will's passion for the "street lawyer" practice of a small-town attorney; and

WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lucy; his four children, who were his proudest achievements: Jack, Walt, Dawn and Drew; also, his beloved daughter-in-law, Courtney; his brother, Pete Denton, of Brooklyn; and two sisters: Beth Sessions of Birmingham, Alabama, and Denne Howard of Rancho Mirage, California; and

WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this well-known attorney, veteran and citizen whose life serves as a model for all Mississippians:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life of renowned Harrison County trial attorney, William Lyman "Will" Denton, of Biloxi, Mississippi, and express to his surviving family the sympathy of the Legislature on his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Will Denton and be made available to The Sun Herald and to members of the Capitol Press Corps.